Known as a glioma, this cancerous tumor is always fatal. Findings from a group of 12 study patients showed that vitespen vaccination (trademarked as Oncophage) was effective in stimulating the patient’s immune system to attack the tumor cells, a function that is known medically as tumor-specific immune response. All the patients had recurrent, high-grade glioma, and all showed the immune response. The vaccine is made from the patient’s own tumor.
The clinical trial was conducted by the UCSF Brain Tumor Research Center. Results were presented today (April 16) at the 75th annual meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons in Washington, DC.
“In this trial, we have observed a correlation between immune response as a result of vitespen vaccination and potential clinical benefit,?said Andrew T. Parsa, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at UCSF and recipient of the 2007 Young Investigator Award at AANS. “We are encouraged by the prolonged improvement in overall survival rates, although this phase 1/2 study is not designed to primarily evaluate efficacy. The patients in this trial represent the most challenging patient population to treat.?
Of the 12 patients being treated, eight can currently be evaluated for overall survival, while four are still receiving treatment. Seven out of the eight patients have exceeded the historical median benchmark of 6.5 months survival from time of recurrence. The investigators will continue to follow the patients for overall survival. Based on these results, a larger, multi-center phase 2 study is planned for late 2007.
Derived from each individual’s tumor, vitespen contains the “fingerprint?of the patient’s particular cance
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Source:University of California - San Francisco